Can you believe it? 2023 is here! There are many exciting things going on right now in the field of expanded learning, and the world of education overall. There are transformative opportunities to redesign programs that capture and further your LEA’s mission; from P-3 alignment initiatives to ELO-P to the Community Schools strategy, now is the time to align the work, leverage multiple funding initiatives, and create great things for students. Our team at the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) is looking forward to continuing to partner with you as you develop expanded learning programs that provide students with opportunities to forge new pathways this year.
Better together,
Expanded Learning and Community Engagement
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Expanded Learning 2021 Biennial Report to the Legislature
The California Department of Education (CDE) has released the 2021 Biennial Report to the Legislature, which is reflective of an analysis of 2018-19 academic year data. This report is titled The Characteristics of Schools and Students Participating in After School Programs 2021 Report, and its findings are in alignment with the first biennial report (submitted to Legislature with analysis of the 2015-16 academic year data). The results reiterate the importance of afterschool programs, saying, “the state’s grant programs are reaching the youth who are most in need of the benefits they provide and that, overall, the programs have had a positive impact on an important outcome indicator: school attendance.”
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Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P)
The Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Program provides funding for afterschool and summer school enrichment programs for kindergarten (including transitional kindergarten) through 6th grade as described in California Education Code (EC) Section 46120. ELO Program funding was established by Assembly Bill (AB) 130 in 2021 and has been amended by AB 181 (Chapter 52, Statutes of 2022) and AB 185 (Chapter 571, Statutes of 2022).
Commencing with the 2023-24 school year, local educational agencies (LEAs) shall be subject to an audit to determine compliance with specific program requirements (EC Section 46120(c)(1)). As of December 2022, the CDE has provided guidance that the 2023-24 ELO-P audit procedures will be used to review the 2023-24 records and data. This audit template is forthcoming.
The System of Support for Expanded Learning at SDCOE will be hosting a virtual ELO Program Plan Guide session in collaboration with the CDE on Jan. 25 from 9 to 10 a.m. This session has been designed for district or charter expanded learning leadership to review ELO Program Plan Guide requirements. Registration for this session is here or available below. |
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The Learning is Expanding Lab (LEXL)
THE FIRST INTEGRATED COMMUNITY LABORATORY FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE OF HUMAN LEARNING
The Learning is Expanding Lab is a collaboration between SDCOE and the UCSD Extension to kindle innovative practices and nourish practitioners working across both formal and informal learning spaces through targeted content and robust collaboration.
Launching to our larger expanded learning audience in Spring 2023, the LEXL offers opportunities to employ human-centered learning strategies such as project-based learning, design thinking, and student-driven research.
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- Student-driven research leads students through the scientific process in a self-driven way.
- First, students need something to focus on.
- You can choose a topic in any area of science. It's easiest to start with a broad topic.
- Give students a little information on the topic and determine where students will do their research.
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California Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) Hub
STEAM is an educational approach that spans all ages and grade levels and can be a key component in expanded learning programs. The San Diego STEAM Hub is operated by the SDCOE System of Support for Expanded Learning (SSEL). The goal of the STEAM Hub is to build STEAM capacity in expanded learning (after-school programs) and is a part of the larger CDE Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) STEAM Hub.
Expanded learning site staff can implement STEAM activities in a flash with their students and tie their learning to what is happening during the school day. Below are some helpful resources to get started incorporating STEAM in after-school programs right away. Feel free to share with your expanded learning staff!
STEAM Hub Resources:
All of these and more are included in the STEAM Hub monthly resource package. Register here to receive free monthly resources.
Want to get plugged in further? Join the San Diego STEAM Hub monthly STEAM Meetups! The Meetups are a community of practice for expanded learning staff to get connected and find inspiration to lead innovative and authentic STEAM learning that ignites students’ imagination and passion to decode challenges and thrive. You can find the registration information for STEAM Meetups here or in the “Stay Connected” section below.
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One of the Quality Standards for Expanded Learning Programs in California is “Youth Voice and Leadership.” Programs that embrace this standard “provide and support intentional opportunities for students to play a meaningful role in program design and implementation, and provide ongoing access to authentic leadership roles.” They engage students and elevate their voices while creating circumstances that allow students to exercise leadership abilities.
Below are a few questions to consider and resources to review as you seek to strengthen a culture of engagement in an after-school program, classroom, or school:
- How are students provided with opportunities to explore real-world problems that they face in their daily lives?
- What structures (e.g. Leaders in Training, youth councils, and more) are in place in the after-school setting to capture youth voice and build leadership capacity?
Additional California AfterSchool Network Resources:
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California Adventure Pass for 4th Graders and Families
In partnership with the First Partner’s Office and the Natural Resources Agency, the California State Park Adventure Pass provides free entry for fourth graders and their families at 19 amazing state parks throughout the state. Mountains, deserts, forests, rivers… the choice of where to visit is yours. Learn more about the California State Park Adventure Pass. The pass is valid for the one-year period during which the child is a 4th grader, or 4th grade equivalent from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31 of that year. Find more information at the California AfterSchool Network.
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Sweetwater Union High School District
In August 2022, leaders from the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) and their expanded learning partner South Bay Community Services participated in a robust CQGrowth discussion. Since their appointment as administrators with oversight and technical assistance for SUHSD ASES and ASSETs programs, Griselda Delgado (director of State and Federal Programs), Leila Kashani (program manager, State and Federal Programs), and Cesar Fernandez (TOSA, Expanded Learning) entered the expanded learning space as learners - seeking to understand the fiscal and grant requirements of the EXL programs while helping to support and encourage innovation for quality programs.
During the discussion, SUHSD and SDCOE worked together to explore ways to support EXL programming and close gaps identified by both teams. From this collegial discussion, the SDCOE EXL grant and fiscal team provided an ASES 101 overview to SUHSD middle school principals and site coordinators, an ASSETS 101 overview to high school site coordinators, provided additional Cityspan training at the request of South Bay Community Services, and conducted a program site visit as requested by the SUHSD team.
Over the years, the SUHSD administrative team have worked within their district to improve their fiscal reporting structures (by redesigning their expenditure reporting and approval structures), establishing structures to review and monitor attendance and early release, and committing to increased communication and collaboration between the district and school-site programs (through monthly meetings and continuous site visits).
These SUHSD administrators exemplify the quality standard of program management through their diligent work in building a strong foundation of fiscal and grant compliance to support innovative practices that build student opportunities and experiences. They are an amazing example of internal CQGrowth practices in motion!
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Spencer Valley School District
Spencer Valley School District launched their first Expanded Learning Opportunities Program this fall. At Spencer Valley School, the students have an amazing opportunity to engage in after-school programming that has included foreign language, academic intervention, Zumba, yoga, and more! Over the 2022-23 winter break, 17 of the 44 Spencer Valley School students participated in winter camp and were able to learn coding skills, play games, and more. Spencer Valley is an amazing picture of a small district that is connecting with their community to offer this new program to their students.
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Liza Flowers, coordinator, and Brittany Mabe, director, had the opportunity to visit with Spencer Valley Superintendent Kelly Baas and visit the winter camp. |
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Spencer Valley students had the opportunity to engage in a coding class during winter camp with their ELO-P director. |
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What is your district or school site doing that pushes learning and engagement beyond our traditional norms? We would love to learn from you. Please email Jackie Linenberger to share unique ideas or more stories from the field. |
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With all of the funding opportunities and initiatives that you may be planning for, it’s important to stay connected and collaborate with the field. Consider taking advantage of the following opportunities. |
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ELO-P Network
Purpose: These sessions provide ongoing updates, learning and support opportunities, and networking for the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program
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ELO Program Plan Guide Session — SDCOE System of Support for Expanded Learning
Purpose: The System of Support for Expanded Learning at SDCOE will be hosting a virtual ELO Program Plan Guide Session to review ELO Program Plan Guide requirements in collaboration with the California Department of Education
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SDCOE Cityspan Training - New Staff
Purpose: SDCOE Web-based Attendance tracking system allows ASES & 21st CCLC sites to register students and collect daily after-school attendance. The system also collects all the data necessary to comply with all reporting requirements set forth by the CDE.
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Date: Jan. 25 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
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Audience: New expanded learning staff utilizing the Cityspan web-based attendance system (This session is for San Diego Expanded Learning Consortium districts and charters only)
- Register here for new staff training
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SDCOE P-3 Network
Purpose: The SDCOE P-3 team is happy to announce the launch of a new network during the 2022-23 school year. Learn and network with educators from across the county at regularly scheduled meetings geared toward district, charter, and early education leads.
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SDCOE System of Support for Expanded Learning — STEAMPOWER Series
Purpose: During February through May 2023, the SSEL will be offering a “STEAMpower Series” to support expanded learning program staff in building their capacity to deliver engaging STEAM experiences in the expanded learning programs. Below is a preview of the opportunities available to expanded learning program staff this year.
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Site Coordinator Symposium
Purpose: This event is presented by the CA Site Coordinator Network and supported by the California AfterSchool Network, CDE Expanded Learning Division, and the System of Support for Expanded Learning. The Site Coordinator Symposium is an annual convening designed to support CA site coordinators and Expanded Learning (EXL) / Out of School Time (OST) educators and partners with a unique opportunity to learn from their peers, colleagues, and other experts in the field. Participants can register for virtual only, in-person only, or both. For more info click here.
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Dates: Virtual Symposium (one day) Wed, Feb. 15; In-Person Symposium (two days) Fri, Feb. 17- Sat, Feb. 18
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Audience: Program staff working with students in before and/or after-school programs (including summer/intersession programs funded by ASES, 21st CCLC and/or Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs)
- Register here to participate
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STEAM Meetups - SDCOE System of Support for Expanded Learning
Purpose: Be a part of a community and find inspiration to lead innovating and authentic STEAM learning that ignites students’ imagination and passion to decode challenges and thrive. Make connections with other expanded learning staff, while boosting your knowledge and skills in creating and delivering STEAM learning opportunities at your program site.
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Dates: Monthly (1st Wednesday), 9:30 to11 a.m.
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Audience: Program staff working with students in before and/or after-school programs (including summer/intersession programs funded by ASES, 21st CCLC and/or Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs)
- Register for STEAM meetups
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2022-23 LCAP Putting it All Together Promoting Equitable Outcomes for All Students
Purpose: These monthly 2.5-hour sessions are designed to provide a space and time for participants to interact with others from around the county, learn about LCAP requirements, and explore promising practices
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Dates: Sept. 9, Oct. 11, Dec. 6, Feb.14, March 14, May 9
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Audience: Open to superintendents and district personnel, charter personnel, LCAP teams, and principals
- Register here to participate
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If you have any questions or comments regarding Expanding Possibilities, please contact Jackie Linenberger
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Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at SDCOE and in our districts across the county. |
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